The red shirts plan to gather in Chiang Mai this Sunday after the prime minister yesterday lifted the state of emergency in the northern province, as well as in Chiang Rai and Ubon Ratchathani.
Leaflets were distributed calling for vendors and residents to wear red and assemble at the Tha Phae outdoor shopping mall this Sunday in "a new form of the show of force that is no mob".
The leaflets also asked for red shirts to "tour the North and go shopping" in Chiang Mai. More weekly gatherings are planned after this Sunday.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he signed an order removing the three provinces from under the emergency decree at the suggestion of his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs and heads the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation.
Abhisit also said he informed the Cabinet about his decision at its weekly meeting in the morning.
Although security threats had not died down in those provinces, the situation was improving and authorities could deal with any new crisis, he said, adding that the decree's chilling effect on local tourism was another factor.
Seven provinces will remain under a state of emergency - Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan in the Central region and Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast.
Ending the state of emergency in those areas would be "the most difficult" decision to make, he said.
"But we'll have to do it. It's because our goal is to return to normalcy and rely on regular mechanisms," he told reporters.
The red shirts had the right to gather peacefully, he said, adding that local tourism operators had told him they thought such moves were better than retaining the state of emergency.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said red-shirt leaders were still active in the seven remaining provinces under the state of emergency.
They got together regularly and even held training courses for their followers, he said.
At the Cabinet meeting, the premier instructed the Public Health Ministry to conduct a survey on red-shirt supporters who took part in the recent protests about their feelings towards the government and the emergency decree, he said.
An earlier study by the ministry found that red-shirt sympathisers from Bangkok's suburbs and nearby provinces were more angry than those from further upcountry.